Life & Work with Jessica of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica.

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Photography, for me, started at a very young age when my grandma gifted me her old Canon Rebel 1 while I was in middle school. From that moment on, I was always taking photos at every holiday, sporting event, and family gathering. Fast forward a few years, I took an interest in wedding photography in high school, starting by mainly going to styled shoots in North Georgia and finally shooting my first wedding at 16. Through high school, I still had an interest in photography, but I slowly got busy with other life events. I truly began pursuing photography as a business in my first year of college at UGA! The first sessions I offered were mini sessions at my family’s winery, Stoney J’s, in Cumming, Georgia. I was able to work with dozens of families to capture their fall family photos! This truly sparked my love for working with people and being able to capture those moments for them. The following year, I decided I wanted to pursue wedding photography. I was fortunate to find a fellow photographer who let me second-shoot for her throughout the summer of 2023. The first couple of years were primarily spent second-shooting, assisting, and leading a few weddings. But it wasn’t until 2025 that I had a full calendar of my own weddings! Starting out can definitely be hard for a young photographer because not many people will give you a chance. I am so lucky to have found a few photographers to learn and grow from who have truly helped develop parts of my business today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In honesty, nothing is a smooth road, especially in an industry that is full of talented photographers who are all looking for engaged couples. I would say the hardest challenge for me was getting over the hump of comparing myself to other photographers and dealing with imposter syndrome. Social media has always been and will always be a struggle for photographers. This is a place where we are supposed to support one another and find new clients, ideas, and creative outlets; however, social media can easily be a place where you feel insecure about yourself, your work, and your business. This is a hard struggle that I still battle with sometimes today (if I even have time to think about it!). In my experience, it is very hard to grow in your business when you are constantly comparing yourself to others. To overcome this, I spent a lot of time truly diving into myself and learning how I wanted to run my own business. Thinking about why someone would want to book with me. Finding that competitive advantage that sets you apart from the big industry that we work in!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer, primarily based in Cumming, Georgia (which is about 45 minutes north of Atlanta). My main focus in photography is working with engaged couples from their engagement session through their wedding day.

For me, my education in hospitality and experience in customer service are what set me apart from others. I graduated with a degree in hospitality management from UGA in 2025, and began pursuing this outlet when my family opened the first winery in Forsyth County. Growing up, I was a shy kid who never felt like I fit in with a group. Working at the winery truly taught me to come out of my shell and learn to enjoy talking to others. I learned the beauty and importance of serving others and putting their needs above my own. And I think this is the perfect skill to bring into a wedding photographer. Couples want someone that they can know and trust to capture their wedding day. They want to know that you are there for them each and every step of the way. Being that extra person in their corner through the process that they can lean on if needed. My goal in my business is to serve my clients and help create a relationship that is friendly and trusting.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
For this question, the only answer I can think of is reading through The Bible and studying the word of the Lord. Especially during harder times through school and struggling to understand my business, I would constantly find myself working through a daily reading and finding a line or verse to stick with me throughout the day to motivate me.

Pricing:

• Wedding Pricing Starting at $3000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessicadenardophotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicadenardophoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicadenardophoto/